An injection of $10.5 million from senior levels of government will help New Westminster upgrade its sewer infrastructure.
Federal cabinet minister Harjit Sajjan and B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang were on hand in New West on Friday afternoon (June 2) for an infrastructure funding announcement. They joined Mayor Patrick Johnstone at Grimston Park to talk about a joint investment of more than $48.6 million to support municipal wastewater projects around B.C.
New West’s share — $5.7 million from the federal government and $4.8 million from the provincial government, together with $3.8 million from the city — will allow New Westminster to realize its West End combined sewer separation and green infrastructure project, Johnstone said.
“New Westminster is not only the oldest city in Western Canada, it’s also one of the fastest growing, and this funding means that we can confidently move forward on major upgrading of the aged infrastructure that makes us vulnerable,” Johnstone said.
“Sewer separation is not sexy, but it will improve water quality in the mighty Fraser River, which is right behind us here. It will also reduce flooding risk in our community, and it will support the population growth in this community through the 21st century.”
The project will include the installation of 24 rain gardens, 8.4 kilometers of storm sewers and three permanent flow monitoring stations, along with the associated works and necessary road rehabilitation.
It’s designed to help improve the quality of storm water that enters the Fraser River.
Other newly announced funds will help projects in Tofino, Kamloops, Central Saanich, Tahsis, McBride and Golden.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
